Amber and Resin

Amber is a wholly-organic material derived from the resin of extinct species of trees. In the dense forests of the Middle Cretaceous and Tertiary periods, between 10 and 100 million years ago, these resin-bearing trees fell and were carried by rivers to coastal regions. There, the trees and their resins became covered with sediment, and over millions of years the resin hardened into amber. Although many amber deposits remain in ocean residue, geological events often repositioned the amber elsewhere.

For thousands of years, amber has been carved and worked into beads, jewelry, and other types of ornamentation. However, today amber is valued primarily for the astounding array of fossils preserved inside. As sticky resin was exuded by the trees, animals, minerals, and plant materials were trapped in it. As the resin hardened, these fossils-called inclusions-were perfectly preserved, providing modern scientists with invaluable information about extinct species.

Resin - Resin is a solid form of terpines obtained from pines and some other plants, mostly conifers, produced by heating fresh liquid resin to vapourise the volatile liquid terpene components. It is semi-transparent and varies in color from yellow to black. At room temperature it is brittle, but it melts at stove-top temperatures. It chiefly consists of different resin acids, especially abietic acid.

In industry it is the precursor to the flux used in soldering. The tin-lead solder commonly used in electronics has about 1% Resin as a flux core helping the molten metal flow and making a better connection. Resin is an ingredient in printing inks, varnishes, glues, medicines, chewing gum, soap, paper sizing, and, in the olden days, sealing wax.

It is also extensively used for its friction-increasing capacity:

Types of Resins color> and Uses: color> color>

Method of Collecting Resin color>

In the collection of the oleoresin in America a cavity is cut in the base of the tree-trunk during the winter, into which a small quantity of the secretion contained in the normal secretion ducts is discharged. The injury thus inflicted on the tree induces the abundant formation of abnormal oleoresin ducts in the new wood. In the following spring a triangular incision is cut above the cavity, from which a much larger discharge of the oleoresin contained in these abnormal ducts takes place. Further hacking, carried on at intervals during the summer, results in further formation of abnormal oleoresin ducts and discharge of the oleoresin, large quantities of which are thus produced. The oleoresin is then distilled with water, oil of turpentine passing over, and resin (colophony) remaining in the still; the fused resin is poured while still hot through wire strainers into barrels, where it solidifies. The oleoresin obtained at first yields about 80 per cent. of pale yellow (amber) resin; later products contain more resin but it is darker in colour (black resin). color>

The essential oil is carried off at a temperature of between 100° and 160° C, leaving fluid Resin, which is run off through a tap at the bottom of the still, and purified by passing through straining wadding. Resin varies in color, according to the age of the tree from whence the turpentine is drawn and the amount of heat applied in distillation, from an opaque almost pitchy black substance through grades of brown and yellow to an almost perfectly transparent colorless glassy mass. The commercial grades are numerous, ranging by letters from A, the darkest, to N, extra pale, superior to which are W, window glass, and WW, water white varieties, the latter having about three times the value of the common qualities. color>

Qualties and Composition: color>

Action and Uses: color>

Preparations for Plasters and Ointments color>

Ceratum Resinae, U.S.P. color>-Resin CERATE.
Resin 35; yellow beeswax, 15; lard, 50.
Ceratum Resinae Compositum, U.S.P.-COMPOUND Resin CERATE.
Resin, 22.5; yellow wax, 22.5; prepared suet, 30; turpentine, 11.5, linseed oil, 13.5
Emplastrum Resinae, B.P.-RESIN PLASTER. Syn.-Adhesive Plaster.
Resin, 10; lead plaster, 80; hard soap, 5. Melt separately, using as little heat as possible, then mix. Resin plaster is used in minor surgery to draw together the edges of wounds, to apply dressings and as a protective. For these purposes a thin backing of calico is usually preferred. For greater protection the plaster may be spread on chamois leather, and for strength and support on brown holland or moleskin.
Parogenum Terebinthinae, B.P.C.-TURPENTINE PAROGEN. Syn.-Turpentine Vasoliment. 1 (factitious turpentine) in 5.
Terebinthina Veneta Factitia, B.P.C.-FACTITIOUS VENICE TURPENTINE.
Resin, 62.5; linseed oil, 22.5; oil of turpentine, 15. The properties of this mixture resemble those of oil of turpentine, and the preparation is sometimes given internally as a diuretic, in doses of 2 decigrams (3 grains). It is, however, used chiefly in the arts, and in veterinary medicine,
Unguentum Resinae, B.P.-RESIN OINTMENT. Syn.-Basilicon Ointment.
Resin, in powder, 8, yellow beeswax, 8; olive oil, by weight, 8; lard, 6. Melt the resin and beeswax together, add the lard and oil, strain and stir until cold. Resin ointment is mildly stimulating; it is applied on lint to indolent sores and ulcers.
Unguentum Resinae Compositum, B.P.C.-COMPOUND RESIN OINTMENT.
Resin, 20; oil of eucalyptus, by weight, 15; hard paraffin, 10; soft paraffin, 55.

Gel or Gel Candles color>

Resin is used to mix with mineral oil to make gel. Preffered mineral oil for gel embeds needs to have a flash point of at least 425+°F and a viscosity of 200. Four cups of resin mixes with 1 gallon of mineral oil or 1 lb. bag of resin will gel 2 gal. of mineral oil to a density equal 15 lb. color>

Utensils Required for making Gel or Gel Candles: color>

Method for making Gel or Gel Candles:

  1. Measure 4 fluid cups of mineral oil and add to 1 cup resin.
  2. Mix in heated pot and let set at room temperature for 30 min. or longer - keep stirred.
  3. Slowly heat mixture until it reaches 200 - 220 degrees F. - hold this temperature until the gel is clear like water. (The mix should be free flowing). (Note: Do not allow the gel to heat higher than 240 degrees F.; if the gel gets hotter than 240 degrees F. it is reaching possible flash point and will scorch - having a burnt odor.)
  4. Stir the mix often while it cooks - the gel might smoke slightly during the process. (Do not be alarmed but do not allow excessive smoke this tells you that the temperature is rising to high)
  5. Add oil based fragrance or color to the mixture just before you are ready to pour. This mix will hold as much as 1 oz. fragrance per lb. gel.
  6. You can achieve different effects by pouring at various temperatures. If you like lots of bubbles let gel cool to 200 degrees F - letting the pour churn up bubbles. Pouring at 240° into a pre-heated container gives fewer to no bubbles.
  7. To embed objects wait 2 - 5 min. after the intitial pour. Drop the embeds into place. Use extreme caution when working with hot gel.

Standard Temperatures to remember:

Projects to Consider:

  1. Gel can be used for decorations. Simply add embeds to the gel and pour into a clear or semi-clear container.
  2. Embedding souvenirs. Some people embed souvenirs...such as their favorite motor sports car into a gel base.
  3. Floral vase - Gel can be made to look like water in a vase to enhance the appearence of dried or silk floral arrangements.
  4. Natural or Paraffin Wax candle holder -. Pour gel into a large glass container along with embeds if desired. Place a wide mouth glass container into the top of the gel. The embeded glass container will hold votives or natural wax candles...avoiding the soot associated with Gel Candles.

Regions of Resin Production color>

 

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